Multi-Use Child Resistant Container and Related Methods

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a multi-use child resistant container with releases and an aperture to create a child resistant opening and closing system, wherein a tray slides in and out of a housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

Reserved for a later date, if necessary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

The disclosed subject matter is in the field of child resistant containers.

Background of the Invention

Frequently, packages and containers contain goods that may not be suitable for young children because they may a choking hazard or cause harm if ingested. There are a variety of child resistant containers and packages that help prevent children from accessing the contents of a container or package. With that said, current child resistant containers require complex manufacturing and feature complex locking mechanisms.

Thus, a need exits for a child resistant container that can be operated and manufactured with ease. The present invention is a child resistant container that can be operated and manufactured with ease, but still provide effective child resistant features that require specific manipulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, an object of this specification is to disclose a child resistant container.

In one embodiment, the container is a box with a drawer or tray that is released via depression of two releases on the sides of the box followed by insertions of a finger or object through a hole on the bottom of the box to push the drawer or tray out of the box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objectives of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration;

FIG. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a back view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration;

FIG. 4 is a left side view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration;

FIG. 5 is a right side view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration;

FIG. 6 is a top view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in an open configuration;

FIG. 10 is a front view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in an open configuration; and,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the first compartment of the multi-use child resistant container in an open configuration;

It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are representative.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS

Disclosed is a multi-use child resistant container. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration; FIG. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration; FIG. 3 is a back view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration; FIG. 4 is a left side view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration; FIG. 5 is a right side view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration; FIG. 6 is a top view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration; FIG. 7 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration; and, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in a closed configuration.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, when in a closed configuration, the multi-use child resistant container is defined by a housing 10, a tray 20, at least one release 30, and, an aperture 40. When in a closed configuration, the tray 20 is housed within the housing 10. On each side of the tray 20, there is a release 30 that is configured to sit within the release openings 50 of the housing 10 (see FIGS. 9 and 11). As discussed below, the releases 30 are a feature of child resistance to allowing the tray 20 to slide out of the housing 10. In a preferred embodiment, the housing 10 is a rectangular box that is enclosed on four sides and the bottom. In a preferred embodiment, the aperture is circular. In an alternative embodiment, the aperture may be a square, diamond, hexagon, triangle, rectangle, or other geometric shape.

In a preferred embodiment, when the tray 20 is completely within the housing 10, there are no protrusions from the top, sides, or bottom of the housing 10.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in an open configuration; FIG. 10 is a front view of one embodiment of the multi-use child resistant container in an open configuration; and, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the first compartment of the multi-use child resistant container in an open configuration. Referring to FIGS. 9-11, in an open configuration, the multi-use child resistant container is comprised of a housing 10, at least one release opening 50, a tray 20, at least one release 30, and, an aperture 40. In a preferred embodiment, the tray 20 slides in and out of the housing 10. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 11, the housing 10 is enclosed on five sides: the front, back, left, right, and bottom. The housing 10 has an opening on the top for the tray 20 to slide in and out of the housing 10. The housing 10 also features an aperture 40 on the bottom of the housing 10, wherein a user may push the tray 20 through the opening at the top of the housing 10. The housing 10 also features release openings 50 on the left and right side of the housing 10, wherein the releases 30 fit into the release openings 50 to secure the tray 20 within the housing 10.

When in a closed configuration, the release 30 are engaged with the release openings 50, which prevents the tray 20 from sliding out of the housing 10. In use, the releases 30 may be pressed down to disengage from the release openings 50 and slide within the housing 10. When the releases 30 slide out of the housing, they depress and form an obstruction that interferes with the side walls of the top of the housing 10, which prevents the tray from sliding back into the housing without a use depressing the releases 30.

In use, a user may store or retrieve items intended to be out of the reach of children in the container by: (i) obtaining a child resistant container; (ii) placing a thumb or finger on one release 30 and another thumb or finger on the other release 30, wherein there is a thumb or finger on each release 30 on each side of the housing 10; (iii) simultaneously pressing the releases 30, wherein the releases 30 go inward and disengages from the release opening 50 of the housing 10; (iv) placing a finger, thumb, or item through the aperture; (v) pushing the finger, thumb, or item against the bottom of the tray 20; (vi) sliding the tray 20 out of the housing 10; and (vii) storing or retrieve an item from the revealed tray 20.

In use, a user may close the container by: (i) obtaining a child resistant container; (ii) placing a thumb or finger on one release 30 and another thumb or finger on the other release 30, wherein there is a thumb or finger on each release 30 on each side of the tray 20; (iii) simultaneously pressing the releases 30, wherein the releases 30 go inward and slips under the edge of the housing 10 and inside the housing 10; and, I (iv) pushing the tray from the release opening 50 of the housing 10.

In one embodiment, the container and its components may be comprised of a rigid plastic or metal. In another embodiment, the container and its components may be comprised of cardboard.

In a preferred embodiment, the container with its child resistant features may be used to store cannabis products, marijuana, edible products, pre-rolled marijuana joints/cigarette, or other marijuana related products. In another embodiment, the container may be used to store cigarettes or other products that users may want or need to keep out of the possession of children.

Although the method and apparatus is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead might be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like, the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof, the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more,” or the like, and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that might be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases might be absent.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives might be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.

All original claims submitted with this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein. 

1. (canceled)
 2. A method of storing a product containing cannabis in a container comprising: obtaining a rectangular housing with five enclosed sides and one open side, wherein the five enclosed sides include a front side, a back side, a left side with a left release opening that features a semi-circular mortise edge, a right side with a right release opening that has a semi-circular mortise-edge, and a bottom side with a circular aperture, and where the open side defines an open end of the housing, obtaining a tray that fits within the housing, wherein the tray features neither any holes nor any cut-outs, wherein the tray further features a left release that has a semi-circular tenon edge and a right release that has a semi-circular tenon edge, wherein the tray is suitably configured to slide in and out of the housing through the open end of the housing, wherein; the left release is located on at least one side of the tray so that the left release fits within and extends out of the left release opening when the tray is completely within the housing and wherein the right release is located an another side of the tray so that the right release fits within and extends out of the right release opening when the tray is completely within the housing, wherein the semi-circular tenon edge of the left release interfaces the semicircular mortise edge of the left release opening when the tray is completely within the housing and wherein the semi-circular tenon edge of the right release interfaces the semi-circular mortise edge of the right release opening when the tray is completely within the housing; sliding the tray through the open end of the housing until the tray is completely within the housing; pressing the both the left release and the release inward respectively through the left release opening and the right release opening until the semi-circular tenon edge of the left release no longer interfaces the semi-circular mortise edge of the left release opening; putting a finger into the circular aperture so that the finger does not contact the tray until a tip of the finger is within the housing and then and pushing tip through the circular aperture against the tray; sliding the tray through the open end of the housing until the tray is out of the housing; placing an item in the tray; and, sliding the tray through the open end of the housing until the tray is completely within the; and, ensuring that the left release of the tray is engaged with the left release opening of the housing and that the right release of the tray is engaged with the right release opening of the housing. 